Safety release ski bindings



March 22, 1966 A, K. BODYCOMB SAFETY RELEASE SKI BINDINGS Filed OClL. 5, 1964 /Q w Vm/ m@ Mgg M United States Patent O M 3,241,849 SAFETY RELEASE SKI BINDINGS Alistair K. Bodycomb, Great Lakes Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto 5, Ontario, Canada Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,620 Claims. (Cl. M30-11.35)

The present invention relates to safety release ski bindings, the same, and this specification constituting a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Serial Number 297,403 filed on the 24th day of July, 1963 and now abandoned.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a safety release ski binding which consi-sts essentially in securing a pair of ski boots on the skis by means of spring-loaded bolts or thrust-rods receivable within depressions provided on the upstanding flanges of bootsecured plates attached to the ski boots.

A further object of the present invention consists of the inclusion of boot-secured subassemblies at the toe and heel of each boot which include flanges inclined upwardly and forwardly toward the plane of the vertical heel axis so as to provide salients above which end-shiftable rods or bolts bear against the fianges, the said salients thus functioning as means whereby the bootsecured sub-assemblies are releasably locked to the ski, it being understood that the aforesaid bolts or rods form part of the heel and toe ski-secured sub-assemblies.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the ski boots may be permitted to float or to move to-a limited extent relative to the skis and parallel therewith under stress without separating from the skis, but at the same time permitting release of the boots from the skis either at both ends simultaneously, or at either end initially, or horizontally and laterally, under excessive stress.

A further object is to provide means whereby the foregoing can be accomplished relatively inexpensively, and also in combination with boot-secured assemblies particularly designed for hiring purposes at ski resorts and the like and which are designed -to fit any boots Without multilating the same.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of safety release ski binding which is relatively inexpensive, exceptionally rigid to the extent that rigidity is desirable, but permit-s release of the boots from the skis in any direction and is subject to variable effort according as the separating effort is Vertical, lateral, or a combination of both these forces.

A still further object is to provide a ski binding which is free from susceptibility to freezing up, need for lubrication, tools and the like, and which includes only one finger-tip operated tension-release adjustment point.

Further objects of the present invention reside in the elimination of undesirable projections, flexibility as a result of which the skis will not be prevented from yielding and bending for best performance, and for the suspension of the boot between two spring loaded points which at all times maintain contact with the boot-Secured portions of the binding.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such others as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the present invention consists of the following construction and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

3,241,849 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 ICC FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the boot-secured assembly forming part of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary representation of one of the craters which act as receptacles for the thrust rods or bolts forming part of the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective representation of the particular form of manually rotatable nut which represents the single adjustment point of the present invention.

In the drawings, like characters of reference designate similar parts in the several figures.

The principle of a spring-loaded, over-center release mechanism is well-known in the art. The construction, arrangement, and adaptation of this principle has however, in the present invention been improved upon to increase greatly the efficiency of the principle while at the same time reducing weight, number of parts, and complexity of manufacture.

Hitherto it has been thought that if the toe or heel of the ski boot is located by means of a spring-loaded ballsocket or pin, that the opposite end of the boot must have a fixed contact point on the ski. In accordance with the present invention however, the boot is permitted to move within limits forwardly and backwardly parallel with the ski (as indicated by the phantom lines in the accompanying FIGURE 1). By this means, safety release actions are achievable in every possible direction, as when the boot is twisted relative to the ski, when the separating effort is excessive at the toe or heel vertically, when the vertical separating effort Iis uniform between heel and toe, or when separation is desirable due to excessive forward or rear impact for instance.

Known safety release ski bindings using the springloaded ball principle with spring-loaded pins and overcenter locking devices are recognized as conspicuously lacking in control of accurate release in one or more directions. They are also susceptible to freezing up, the need for frequent lubrication, and the need of more than one tension-release point, employment of tools, difficulty of fitting binding to ski, and difficulty of locating the ski boot in the binding.

Proceeding now first to describe the construction of the present invention in summary form to aid in orientation of the parts thereof with respect to the accompanying claims, the inventive concept embodied herein is comprehended in the provision of a ski-secured assembly collectively designated 1 comprising toe and heel subassemblies collectively designated 2 and 3 respectively. A boot-secured assembly collectively designated 4 comprises toe and heel sub-assemblies 5 and 6 respectively. The ski-secured assembly 1 is suitably fastened to ski 7 as by means of the screws 8. The boot-secured assembly 4 is fastened to boot 9 by means of screws which extend through the sole-plates 10 of the sub-assemblies 5 and 6.

The ski-secured assemblies 1 embody toe and heel spring-loaded elements collectively designated 11 and 11. These are provided with (preferably) conical bearing portions 12 bearable against the upstanding flanges 13 and 14 of the sub-assemblies 5 and 6, being receivable under the bias of springs 13 and 14 into depressions 15 and 16. However it will be apparent that portions 12 may be of other configurations, or even constitute squared ends of the rods 11 and 11. The depressions 15 and 16, may be in the form of craters or sockets such as those indicated by the last foregoing numerals. Alternatively or additionally, such depressions may consist of the inclination of the aforesaid flanges 13 and 14 toward the vertical axis 17 of the heel of boot 9. In such case the depressions occupy the higher stratum of space generally designated 18 in which the flanges 13 and 14 reside, so that a salient 19, may be said to exist below the horizontal plane of thrust-rod 11 as that indicated in the accompanying FIGURE 3. The un-threaded front end of rod 11 should be flattened and reduced in diameter relative to the threaded mid-portion. The aperture in bearing 31 should complement the flattened rod-portion to prevent its rotation while permitting its free endwise movement.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description of the present invention, it will be observed that the flange 14 is preferably, though not necessarily, curved around the heel 20. It will also be observed by particular reference to the accompanying FIGURES 3, 4 and 8 that the depressions or craters 15 and 16 are of greater area in the planes of the external lands 21 than in the planes of their troughs 22 as particularly designated by the outer and inner perimeters 23 and 24 of the accompanying FIG- URE 8.

It will also be observed by reference to this last noted figure that the boundaries 25 of the depressions 16 converge more steeply toward the trough 22 around the part (of the boundary) 26 which occupies the higher stratum of space. The lower portions 27 are shallower and the side portions 28 widen gradually downwards. By this general conformation there is achieved what presently appears to be for most practical purposes, the most desirable variation of slope in the aforesaid boundary in relation to the rounded tip 29 of the conical portion 12 of rods 11 for disengagement between these and the subassemblies 5 and 6 vertically, as contrasted with laterally when considered in relation to the fact that the leaving of the boot from the ski takes place in connection with a yielding or retraction of the bolt or bolts at the opposite end, and a follow-through of the bolt or bolts from which the boot is being initially released.

Ski-secured sub-assembly 2 in detail comprises a bracket collectively designated 30, a pair of aligned and spaced, upstanding bearings 31 and 32 thereon, spring 13 aforesaid, the finger-rotatable nut 33 of the configuration best illustrated in the accompanying FIGURE 9, and a light-pressure bee-hive spring 34. Rod 11 moves in plane apertures formed in the bearings 31 and 32. It will thus be clearly apparent that as rotation of member 33 compresses spring 13 against bearing 31, rod 11 will be forced more heavily against flange 13. Spring 34 is provided to function as an evener or equalizer in the event of the release of the toe of the boot from portion 12 of rod 11.

Ski-secured heel sub-assembly 3 comprises a bracket collectively designated 35 having upstanding front and rear bearings 36 and 36 thereon and an integral overspanning, open-centered portion 37. The pair of rods 11 which move through plane apertures in the bearings 36 and 36 are smooth in contrast to the screw-threaded rod 11 which passes through bearings 31 and 32. The pair of rods 11l moving in the bearings 36 are surrounded by the springs 14 already identified. These springs bear against pins 38 which extend through the rear rods. When correctly set upon the skis 7, there should be a slight space between the pins 38 and the forward one of bearings 36 as depicted in the accompanying FIGURE l.

In the accompanying FIGURES 5 through 7 there has been illustrated means by which the boot-secured assembly collectively designated 4 may be removably secured to the boot. This is particularly desirably for use at ski resorts where the customer desires to hire skis fitted with the assembly 1. Then, without mutilating his own boots, he may attach the assembly 4 which will now be described.

Detachable boot-secured assembly collectively designated 39 comprises a toe sub-assembly collectively designated 40, and a heel sub-assembly collectively designated 41 overlapping the same. Slots 42 are provided in portion 41, these being preferably counter-sunk although not so shown in the accompanying drawings, to receive complementarily counter-sunk screws or rivets 43. By these means obviously the parts 40 and 41 may be extended or retracted and secured.

The parts 40 and 41 are provided at the toe and heel thereof respectively with flanges 44 and 45 essentially similar to the flanges 13 and 14. Secured to the edges of the parts 40 and 41 by means of counter-sunk screws 46, are upstanding angle brackets 47. To these in turn are secured by means of the counter-sunk screws 48, inwardly directed angle brackets 49 which engage the welt 50 of the associated boot 9. Obviously the brackets 47 and 49 may be adjustable by the provision of slots instead of round holes for the heads of the screws 46 and 48.

By such expressions as depressions, craters and sockets it is to be understood that any aperture or slot is intended to be included. Furthermore the depression may be in the form of apertures, or blind craters, as when the metal is punched downwardly but not pierced in contrast to when it is pierced. It should also be emphasized that the depressions 15 and 16 are so shaped with reference to the co-operating bolts or thrust rods 11 during manufacture as to provide maximum rigidity while skiing between the boot and ski while yet permitting the exact amount of release-tension in varying directions. Manufacture of these parts is very critical and demands much prior testing since the one adjustment point (33) only compensates for the tightening or loosening of the release-action and does not control the tension-release in any particular direction, Accordingly it will be apparent that a harmonious relationship has to be ascertained between the exact shape of the portions 12 (the heads of the bolts), the spring pressure at front and rear, and both the depressions and the flanges 13 and 14 themselves.

It should lastly be particularly mentioned that it is important that the sub-assemblies 2 and 3, 4 and 5 including the rods 11 and 11 should all be case-hardened since there is heavy and continuous pressure and for wear especially as between the portions 12 and the depressions 15 and 16, also between the rods and the apertures through which they extend in the bearings 31, 32, 36 and 36.

Since various modifications can be made to the invention herein described within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed, it is not intended that protection of the said invention should be interpreted as restricted to the particular modification or modifications or known parts of such concept as particularly described, defined or exemplified, since this disclosure is intended to explain the construction and operation of such concept and is not for the purpose of limiting protection to any specific embodiment or details thereof.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In safety-release ski-bindings, in combination, (i) ski-secured assemblies, and (ii) a boot-secured assembly which includes a toe and heel sub-assembly, said subassemblies including upwardly projecting flanges covering a portion of the lower adjacent surrounding edge of said boot, said flanges being provided with depressions therein, said ski-secured assemblies including springloaded elements acting parallel with the ski-surface and engageable with said flanges, a portion of each of said elements being receivable under spring-'bias into said depressions, said portions being cambered, said springloaded elements permitting relative parallel movement under stress between said boot and ski, and release of said boot at both ends simultaneously, as well as initially, at either end, and both horizontally and vertically, under excessive stress.

2. The elements according to claim 1 in which said portions are conical.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which the boundaries of said depressions converge towards the troughs thereof.

4. The depressions according to claim 1 which are in the form of craters, and in which said portions are conical.

5. The boot-secured assembly according to claim 1 which includes welt-clamps for removably securing said assembly to said boot.

6. The boot-secured assembly according to claim 1 which includes Welt-clamps for removably securing said assembly to said boot, and, in which said depressions are in the form of craters, and said portions of said elements are conical.

7. In safety-release ski-bindings, in combination, (i) a ski-secured assembly, and (ii) a boot-secured assembly comprising toe and heel sub-assemblies each of which include a flange inclining upwardly toward the vertical axis of the heel of said boot, said ski-secured assembly including spring-loaded elements acting against said anges parallel to the ski furnace, said spring-loaded elements permitting relative parallel movement under stress between said boot and ski, and release of said boot at both ends simultaneously, as well as initially, at either end, and both horizontally and vertically, under excessive stress.

8. The invention according to claim 7 which includes depressions in said anges, and in which the portions of said elements bearing against said flanges are cambered and receivable into said depressions.

9. The portions according to claim 8 which are conical.

10. The depressions according to claim 8 the bound.- aries of which converge towards the troughs thereof.

11. The boot-secured assembly according to claim 5 which includes welt-clamps for removably securing said assembly to said boot.

12. The boot-secured assembly according to claim 11 in which said depressions are in the form of craters, and said portions of said elements are conical.

13. Safety-release ski-bindings comprising in combination, a ski-secured assembly, and a boot-secured assembly, said ski-secured assembly embodying .toe and heel subassemblies, said boot-secured assembly also embodying a toe and heel sub-assembly, said ski-secured toe subassembly being in yieldable contact with said boot-secured toe sub-assembly, said ski-secured toe sub-assembly consisting of a bracket, a pair of aligned and spaced, u-pstanding bearings thereon, a spring-loaded screw-threaded thrust-rod parallel with the surface of said ski having a cambered operating end, extending through apertures in said bearings, means for varying the loading of said rod, said boot-secured toe sub-assembly consisting of an anglebracket having a sole-plate, and an upwardly projecting toe-flange, said ski-secured heel sub-assembly consisting of a bracket, 4two lpairs of aligned and spaced upstanding bearings thereon, a spring-loaded thrust-rod parallel with the surface of said ski, and having a cambered bearing end, extending through each pair of said last mentioned bearings, said boot-secured heel sub-assembly consisting of a heel-plate and. an upwardly projecting heel-flange, said toe and heel flanges having depressions therein for the spring-biased reception of the said bearing ends of said thrust-rods, said depressions being of greater area in the planes of the external lands immediately surrounding the same, than in the planes of their troughs, the boundaries of said depressions converging towards said troughs but more steeply around the parts of said depressions which occupy the higher horizontal stratum of space, said thrust-rods binding the associated boots and skis together in virtue of the reception aforesaid.

14. Safety-release ski-bindings comprising in combination, a ski-secured assembly, and a boot-secured assembly, said ski-secured assembly embodying toe and heel subassemblies, said boot-secured assembly also embodying a toe and heel sub-assembly, said ski-secured toe subassembly being in yieldable contact with said boot-secured toe sub-assembly, said ski-secured toe sub-assembly consisting of a bracket, a pair of aligned and spaced, upstanding bearings thereon, a spring-loaded screw-threaded thrust-rod parallel with the surface of said ski having a cambered operating end, extending through apertures in said bearings, means f-or varying the loading of said rod, said boot-secured toe sub-assembly consisting of an anglebracket having a sole-plate and an upwardly and rearwardly lprojecting toe-ange, said ski-secured heel subassembly consisting of a bracket, two pairs of aligned and spaced, upstanding bearings thereon, a spring-loaded thrust-rod parallel with the surface of said ski, and having a cambered bearing-end extending through each pair of said last mentioned bearings, said boot-secured heel sub-assembly consisting of a heel-plate and an upwardly and forwardly projecting heel-flange, said thrust rods bearing against said flanges.

15. The safety-release ski-bindings according to claim 14 in which the said heel-ange is semi-circular, said toe and heel anges having depressions therein for the spring biased reception of the said bearing ends of said thrustrods, said depressions being of greater area in the planes of external lands immediately surrounding the same than in the planes of their troughs, the boundaries of said depressions converging towards said troughs but more steeply around the parts of said depressions which occupy the higher horizontal stratum of space, said thrust-rods binding the associated boots and skis together in virtue of the reception aforesaid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,955 11/1951 Cubberley 280-ll.35 2,788,981 4/1957 Emerson 280-1l.35 2,793,869 5/1957 Braun 28o-11.35

FOREIGN PATENTS 196,292 3/ 1958 Austria.

556,731 271957 Italy. 1,179,625 12/1958 France.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner. 

1. IN SAFETY-RELEASE SKI-BINDINGS, IN COMBINATION, (I) SKI-SECURED ASSEMBLIES, AND (II) A BOOT-SECURED ASSEMBLY WHICH INCLUDES A TOE AND HEEL SUB-ASSEMBLY, SAID SUBASSEMBLIES INCLUDING UPWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGES COVERING A PORTION OF THE LOWER ADJACENT SURROUNDING EDGE OF SAID BOOT, SAID FLANGES BEING PROVIDED WITH DEPRESSIONS THEREIN, SAID SKI-SECURED ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING SPRINGLOADED ELEMENTS ACTING PARALLEL WITH THE SKI-SURFACE AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FLANGES, A PORTION OF EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING RECEIVABLE UNDER SPRING-BIAS INTO SAID DEPRESSIONS, SAID PORTIONS BEING CAMBERED, SAID SPRINGLOADED ELEMENTS PERMITTING RELATIVE PARALLEL MOVEMENT UNDER STRESS BETWEEN SAID BOOT AND SKI, AND RELEASE OF SAID BOOT AT BOTH ENDS SIMULTANEOUSLY, AS WELL AS INITIALLY, AT EITHER END, AND BOTH HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY, UNDER EXCESSIVE STRESS. 